On July 21, the Interethnic Association for the Development of the Peruvian Rainforest (AIDESEP), the Regional Organization of Indigenous Peoples of the East (ORPIO), and the Regional Government of Loreto (GOREL), in coordination with the Governors’ Climate and Forests Task Force (GCF Task Force), held a meeting in the city of Iquitos to address the situation of indigenous peoples in isolation and initial contact (PIACI).
After a broad dialogue, all stakeholders agreed on the importance of the Ministry of Culture, the lead agency in PIACI matters, taking the lead in an information process at the level of the regions that make up the Amazon Regional Commonwealth to clarify the issues related to the profound misinformation regarding the legal framework for the protection of PIACIs and the procedures for their recognition and the establishment of indigenous reserves.
In this regard, the president of AIDESEP, apu Jorge Perez, said that “we agree with you, governor, that the Ministry of Culture should lead the information process of providing clear and transparent information to all stakeholders.”
In addition, all parties recognized the importance of opening spaces that allow for sharing information in a timely manner, facilitating a process of transparent and good faith dialogue between representatives of indigenous peoples, civil society, local and national academia, and the principal members of the Multisectoral Commission in the framework of the PIACI Law, the Ministry of Culture, and the regional and municipal governments in whose territories the PIACIs are located.
The participants agreed to hold a first working meeting in August to address issues related to public investment to close the gap for native communities in the Amazon. They also agreed to address and clarify the misinformation that is being disseminated regarding the creation of indigenous reserves and the rights of neighboring native communities, as well as development projects and basic services in the reserves.
Apu Miguel Manihuari, leader of ORPIO, urged the governor to go to the territories: “I invite you to go to our territory and build schools there. Work hand in hand with indigenous organizations.”
Finally, the Regional Government of Loreto will ask the Ministry of Culture to conduct the principal presentation on the most important information about the PIACI to the mayors, universities, and main actors in the regions.
(See Press Release in Spanish)